Prudential Douglas Elliman released it’s 3rd Quarter market overview for the Hamptons and the North Fork. In a nutshell a little bit of bad but better than expected with some very positive points. How so? Well, the inventory and price indicators were below the prior year and prior quarter. This is primarily due to the shift away from those high-end trophy properties. Meanwhile, the number of sales was up from the prior year! They’re also selling faster than they did last year.
If you want to read the complete report you can go to Prudential Douglas Elliman’s website; www.elliman.com So, finally I got the scoop on what’s going on at Nichols in East Hampton but it’s not a simple answer. Don’t worry folks the haunt which boasts such celebrity clientele as Sir Paul McCartney will feature those same deep fried breadsticks. Apparently the former owner of Ziggy’s in Bridgehampton is the new proprietor of Nichol’s. I have to say Ziggy’s was a great little place with good food and friendly staff, let’s hope they can keep it going in East Hampton.
Meanwhile, the former staff of Nichols is rumored to trying to do it on their own. After the last owner sold some of the employees said they want to try it for themselves. Yep, they’re going to open their own restaurant and are currently shopping for a location. Almond in Bridgehampton shut it’s doors last weekend after a long and extremely successful run. I heard they’re also shopping for a new location, no word yet on where they’re going. The rumors I’ve heard floated is owner Eric Lemonides is going to Sag Harbor in the former JLX Bistro. Also heard that Michael Gluckman of Boathouse fame just sealed a deal for the old Prime 103/Peconic Coast site. Meanwhile, some restaurants currently on the market for sale include Bamboo and to many folks surprise Della Famina! Apparently Jerry is selling more than his house. I guess this isn’t exactly news since he said to the Wall Street Journal back in September “basically, everything I own is up for sale,” Mr. Della Femina said, including his restaurant and newspaper. Della Famina went on to express his cynicism about the direction of the economy. Finally, some warm holiday wishes from the agents of Prudential Douglas Elliman in the Hamptons.
So today is now something everyone is calling “CyberMonday.” It’s the day that retailers are promoting as the next best thing for the economy since “Black Friday.” It’s the day where America forgets about heading to the mall and instead logs onto their computers and shops! What a nice thing, right?! No fighting over parking or dealing with store employees who are trying to work scanners or fixing there mistakes as they wait for a manager with a “key!” Instead you just go online click a button and voila! Let’s just hope you don’t have a problem. Everyone keeps talking about scam websites. Also, what if it doesn’t fit or its defective!? Yikes, the next thing you know you’re on the phone with “Tiffany” in Mumbai and the problem just got worse!
One last thing! I saw the new musical WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN. It’s been eviscerated by the critics but you know what? It was actually a really enjoyable show! Patti LuPone, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Sheree Renee Scott headline a quirky, ambitious and fun show. I loved the movie version and I think the show, (although the music is lacking) is a worthy follow up. I thought BILLY ELLIOT was awful and it won the TONY! Once again, what do I know.
Ironic, one of my favorite Marx Brothers lines came to mind last night (see today’s headline). But no I didn’t say it! I was enjoying my dinner in the basement of 1770 House last night when a rather loud woman next to me was extolling the virtues of a certain “News” channel. She claimed it was the only one that gave viewers the “whole story.” I nearly lost it! Now, I can’t get into it for legal reasons but I did give her a piece of my mind and tried to educate her to the best of my ability. I mean, she had a sort of “sapphic” (not that there is anything wrong with that) look to her and to me she seemed like a chicken defending Colonel Sanders. I don’t think it worked.
And now speaking of the Marx Brothers… this coming Saturday Bay Street Theatre will be showing “MONKEY BUSINESS!” It’s no “Night at the Opera” but any Marx Brothers is a good Marx Brothers. Admission is $5 or you can throw in a dinner at the American Hotel for $25 including the movie ticket. Now that’s an awesome deal if you ask me. (The American Hotel 631-725-3535)
I’m going to go through today’s blog and basically type a stream of consciousness here! I can’t believe it but in a land where people can spend almost $100 for lobster salad, Bentley’s abound and a million dollars barely buys you shack people are still going hungry in the Hamptons. No, this has nothing to do with a detox program, these are people who don’t have the money to buy food. It’s women, it’s men and it’s old people and it’s young people, it’s immigrants and bonackers here who are going hungry! IN THE HAMPTONS FOLKS!!! One of the their last resorts has long been the respective food banks. But unfortunately cuts in funding and the tough economy have caused the shelves to go bare. I know we get hit with tons of charities this time of year but it takes so little to drop a can or a buck in a food pantry box. One of my agents is a volunteer at the East Hampton food bank and she said things are not good. So come on people, here’s your chance to show the Hamptons aren’t as nasty as the line at Scoop Du Jour on 4th of July! We can do it!